Maynard resident helps woman in Concord through Neighbor Brigade

She showed up and drove her to Crosby’s Marketplace to pick up groceries, and then to the Concord Library.

Quinlan, 73, broke her ankle a few weeks ago, and relies on her angel to help out with basic errands.

Quinlan’s angel is Polly Mendoza, of Maynard, who drove to Quinlan's Concord home April 5, opened the passenger-side door of her car and helped Quinlan as she gingerly lowered herself into the front seat.

“I really like getting to know (Polly),” Quinlan said moments after settling herself into the front seat, and off they went to run errands.

"Angel" is the name for volunteers at Neighbor Brigade, an organization that provides help to individuals and families facing a temporary crisis with basic tasks like meal preparation, rides to medical appointments and dog-walking.

Mendoza is the executive director of Neighbor Brigade, overseeing 4,000 volunteers and 31 chapters. She also helped kicked off the Maynard chapter in September 2016. Stow’s chapter, led by Tabatha Massucci, was started in March 2010.

Quinlan said she was scared when it was time to come home from Emerson Hospital after breaking her ankle, because she lives alone and didn’t know how she was going to navigate the stairs.

She also didn’t want to be a burden to her neighbors, worried she might be seen as a nuisance if she asked for too much help. But now that she has had time to work with volunteers like Mendoza, her fears of isolation when she came home from the hospital haven't materialized.

The idea for Neighbor Brigade started with Wayland resident Pam Washek, and the acts of kindness she received from her neighbors in 2002 when she was diagnosed with cancer. It was originally called Wayland Angels, and Washek changed the name to Neighbor Brigade in 2010 when she formally incorporated the nonprofit. The intention was to spread the concept to other communities.

Washek lost her battle with cancer in 2012, and according to Mendoza, half the organization’s budget comes from an annual road race in October, called Pam’s Run in honor of Washek.

Prospective volunteers can set up a profile on the Neighbor Brigade website at neighborbrigade.org. Volunteers help out with a variety of tasks, such as dog walking, meal preparation, providing rides to medical appointments, and visiting with people.

The volunteer schedule is flexible -- people can help as often as once a day or as little as once a year. If someone who has signed up to help has a last-minute conflict, they can back out and the request for help will be resubmitted.

Children as young as 14 can volunteer for the Neighbor Brigade with their parent’s approval, said Mendoza, noting it is a great way for high school students to earn community service hours.

“I love the sense of community this gives me,” Mendoza said. “I get to meet people, and strengthen the community at the same time.”

Quinlan said she’s looking forward to the day the therapeutic boot comes off her right foot, but in the meantime, she’s said she thankful for Neighbor Brigade, and her friendship with volunteers like Mendoza.

“I’m thrilled to have the help,” Quinlan said.

More about Neighbor Brigade

FOR INFO In Maynard email MaynardMA@neighborbrigade.org; in Stow email StowMA@neighborbrigade.org or visit neighborbrigade.org